143: Discipline: Beauty Found In Self-Control

143: Discipline: Beauty Found In Self-Control

In this busy and rapidly changing day and age, we all can’t help but feel the pressure to do as much as we can as fast as we could. As a result, we are sometimes left with unsatisfactory results, where we could have done better. What is lacking in all of this is discipline, and Thane Marcus Ringler reminds us how important this ability is in our lives. In the middle of developing his course about the subject, Thane gives us a teaser on what to expect through some of the tools and practices that can help us become a disciplined person. In this episode, he taps into the value and beauty that is found in self-control or in delaying gratification, which is necessary if we are to lead and change ourselves and the world for the better.

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Discipline: Beauty Found In Self-Control

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This is a shorter solo episode where I get to share a few thoughts. I thought it would be very fitting to share some thoughts on discipline. The context of this episode is that I am in the middle of developing an online course about how we develop discipline. How we become disciplined people. This is a little teaser that will wet your whistle and get you excited for this course that we’ll be launching. Be on the lookout for that. I’ll be sure to keep you informed. I’m excited about it because I think discipline is such a massively important part of living a good life and something that doesn’t happen by chance.

I’m going to share some of the thoughts from the course and give you a little bit of what you can expect if you choose to dive in to developing discipline with me. This course is all about the tools and practices to grow yourself into a disciplined person. The point of any course or even coaching program like I have, if you’re interested in coaching, definitely go to ThaneMarcus.com where you can find more info. Thomas Caruthers had a great quote that frames all of this work. He said, “A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary.” That’s the heart behind all of it. I want to make myself progressively unnecessary. I’m giving tools to empower others, not to have them be empowered by me where I feel obligated to have me give them anything continually. My goal is to give them a start so that they can finish the race.

Understanding discipline, what is discipline? In our lifelong quest to never settle, which is a big rally cry of mine, there is one key or one elixir that enables us to grasp at this lofty goal. That is discipline. If we are ever to practically apply any concept, idea or habit into our lives, we must first have an understanding of what that thing is and what its essence is. This allows our experience to reinforce what we already know, to put words as a framework for what we then experience in our daily practice of that thing. Discipline is the ability to delay gratification to a future date or time. It is the ability to choose what you’re going to do regardless of how you feel about it. Even more so, it is the ability to do something despite or inspite of how you feel in the moment. It is a practice, a habit, a muscle that you develop through repetition and ultimately through intention. A foundational purpose or reason why you consistently choose discipline.

Discipline is a word that applies in quite a few different ways in English, which is why it is so important that we first all get on the same page with what it is we are talking about. Discipline can be defined as, A, control gained by enforcing obedience or order, orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior or self-control. B, punishment. C, training that corrects molds or perfects the mental faculties or moral character. D, a field of study, or E, a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity. For our purposes in this course, we will be operating off the working definition of discipline as a verb that means to train or develop by instruction and exercise, especially in self-control.

Discipline: Discipline is the ability to delay gratification to a future date or time. It is the ability to choose what you’re going to do regardless of how you feel about it.

In this working definition, there are a few components to briefly highlight. First, it takes training or developing. This is important to note because discipline will never just happen. Discipline isn’t something that arrives by chance. Second, it is assisted by instruction and exercise. This course is aimed at providing you with both instruction and exercises that will fuel your personal discipline. Training and developing it until it is a personal strength or characteristic. Third and lastly, one of the key fruits that will develop from this practice is self-control. In order to lead others well, you must first be able to lead yourself well. The purpose of discipline and of this course on developing discipline is to be able to lead yourself well in order to be a leader for others. We must first be the change if we ever want to see the change in the world around us. Ryan Holiday said, “If you want to have a different world, it is on you to make it so.”

What this course will provide is eight tools and eight practices that will help solidify discipline as a part of your being. Each section will contain several components. First, a lesson on the tool. Second, a practice for the development of that tool. Third, a quiz to help you retain key information given. Fourth, a journaling worksheet for further self-discovery surrounding the tool and as practice. Finally fifth, several exercises for additional growth. To further wet your whistle a bit, here are the eight tools we will be discussing as we journey together ahead. The eight tools are belief, motivation, persistence, recognition, tools or training, recovery, integration and understanding.

Discipline isn’t just a tool. It isn’t just a practice. It is a way of life and a way of being. This course is designed to take you on that journey so that you begin to experience and see the beauty of what discipline provides. That is what this course is all about. I am excited about sharing it with you. It’s been many months in the making and something that I feel strongly and passionate about. I cannot wait to know how it furthers your own practice of discipline. I’m excited to know what you guys think. Until next time, I hope you have an up and coming week.

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